Circuit closer



1954 c. R. HAMMERSTRAND 2,665,340

CIRCUIT CLOSER Filed Jan. 15 1951 Clarence R. Hammers/rand INVEN TQR.

Patented Jan. 5, 1,954

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT CLOSER Clarendon. Hammerstrand, Rockford, Ill. Application January 15, 1951, Serial No. 205,981

(Cl. ZOO-43) Z CIaims. l

Th present invention relates to improvements in amusement devices and more particularly to a puzzle having a number of switches connected in series with an indicating means associated therewith whereby when said plurality of switches are inclos'ed position, the indicating means will be actuated.

An object of the present invention is to provide anovel puzzle structure wherein a plurality of switches are connected in series and wherein the switches are in closed position when they are in preselected positions whereby the circuit of theswitclies becomes entirely closed when the switches are in their correct puzzle positions.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a puzzle wherein there are a multiplicity of positions for the plurality of switches, thereby providing a large number of possible combinations of switch positions, thereby increasing the difficulty of solving the puzzle.

Still further objects of the present invention are to provide an electrical switch puzzle that is simple in construction, easily assembled and disassembled, and which embodies various novel details of construction.

The best form in which I have contemplated applying my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switch puzzle with part of the housing broken away;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the switch puzzle;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the structure of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially along the plane of line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, the numeral l designates generally the housing for the electrical switch puzzle, the numeral l2 designates generally the electrical power supply means, the numeral [4 designates generally the signal means and the numeral I 6 designates generally the novel switch system employed in the present invention.

The housing II! is comprised of a substantially rectangular housing having an upper flat wall or top I8, end walls 26 and side walls 22. Corner portions of the housing ID are formed with the rectangular elements 24 which are bored at 26. A bottom closure plate 28 is positioned for closing the open bottom of the housing with screws 3|] being employed for insertion inthe bores 26 and for securing the plate 28 to the housing It.

The underside of the top plate I8 is formed with 2 a pair' of longitudinally extending elongated bars 32 and 34 and an elongated fiat metallic strap'36. A conventional dry cell battery 38 is positioned between the rods 32 and 34 and has one endemaged by the flat strap 36 at 40. The end por tion 40 of the strap 36 is also arcuated in order that the resiliency of the strap may be utilized for urging the dry cell 38 into contact with the socket portion 42. A sleeve 44 which-receives the dry cell battery 384s integrally secured to the rods 32* and 34 for slidably supporting the bat tery in thehousing H). V i

A signal means 14 is comprisedof a conventional lamp 48 which projects through an opening 48 in the upper wall [8 of the housing It). A bulb is supported on the angulated, flat metallic strap 50 which is secured to the underside of the upper wall l8 at 52. An end portion of the strap 53 supports the lamp 46 at 54.

As seen best in Figures 1 and 3, the housing I0 is provided with a plurality of transversely extending elongated slots 56 which are in longitudinally spaced relation to each other and in longitudinal alignment with each other. The top wall I8 is also formed with a pair of longitudinally extending ridges 58 and 6B which intersect the central portions of the slots 56 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The underside of the top wall I8 is formed with a plurality of electrical conductor sections 62 which connect preselected end portions of the slots 56, the circuit of the electrical conductor section 62 being broken by the slots.

A switch means is best seen in Figures 2 and 4 as comprising elongated cylindrical shank portions 64 extending through the slots 56 and having elongated longitudinally extending heads 66 secured to their upper end portions. The lower ends of the shank portion 64 have cotter pins 68 extending therethrough. Coil springs 10 are disposed about the shank portion 64 and retained thereon by means of the cotter pins 68 while the upper ends of the spring 10 engage annular slidable contact rings 12 for normally urging them upwardly.

In View of the foregoing, it i believed that one skilled in the art will readily understand the manner in which the puzzle is operated.

Th individual switches 16 may be actuated by pressing the knobs or heads 66 over the ridge 58 for positioning on either side thereof. 01 course, the contact rings 12 will be engaged with end portions of the conductor sections 62 when the switch is in its correct position, the spring 10 normally urging the ring 12 upwardly to provide a good contact with the conductor section 62.

In order to solve the puzzle, it is necessary that one expeditiously determine th possible combinations of positions of the plurality of switches whereby the circuit will be completed for the lamp 46. In the form shown, there are a possible 256 combinations of switch positions, one of the combinations completing the circuit for actuating the signal means.

In view of the foregoing description, it is believed that a switch puzzle has been provided which will accomplish all of the objects hereinabove set forth.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An electrical switch comprising a housing having a plurality of transversely extending and longitudinally spaced parallel slots in one wall thereof, switch elements disposed in said slots and having shank portions extending into said housing, coil springs disposed about said shank portions, longitudinally extending elongated heads integrally formed with said shank portions and being urged into engagement with said one wall by said springs, and electrical conductor elements joining preselected ends of adjacent slots, said switch elements having annular contacts slidable thereon for selective positioning in said slots and for selectively opening and closing a circuit formed by said conductors, said wall of said housing having said slots longitudinally aligned and formed with a ridge longitudinally connecting said slots at the central portions 4 thereof, said elongated heads being of cylindrical form and selectively positionable on opposite sides of said ridge for making and breaking the circuit.

2. An electrical switch of the character described comprising a housing including a top having a plurality of slots therein, ribs on the top extending between intermediate portions of the slots, conductors beneath the top extending between preselected end portions of the slots, vertical shanks slidable in the slots, crossheads on the upper ends of th shanks engageable with the top on opposite sides of the ribs, annular contacts slidable on the shanks and bridging the slots for engagement with adjacent end portions of the conductors, and coil springs on the shanks for urging the contacts upwardly and yieldingly engaging the crossheads with the top on either side of the ribs.

CLARENCE R. HAMMERS'I'RAND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 514,813 Cheatham Feb. 13, 1894 516,478 Donnelly Mar. 13, 1894 525,400 Apitz Sept. 4, 1894 2,127,396 Faber Aug. 16, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 198,086 Germany May 5, 1908 

